Date: 10/21/2008
<br>Author: Devin Pickard
<br>Title: The Eagle Flies High
<br><br>The old saying is that “everybody loves an underdog”.  What sports fan didn't get just a little joy out of seeing Appalachian State beat the then #5 ranked Michigan Wolverines in football last year?  Or, who didn't get a few thousand goose bumps when Jim Valvano's  NC State Wolfpack beat the Houston Cougars back in 1983 to win the NCAA College Basketball Championship?  Just last year our own Matthew Dotson and his Belmont teammates nearly stunned the basketball world when they came within a hair of beating the Duke Blue Devils in the first round of the NCAA tournament.  There is just something about the human spirit that relishes the occasions when David is able to defeat Goliath, or even come close.  To the Christian, those unforeseen victories are reminders of the promise..... “with God all things are possible”.  We may be down, but with God, we are never out....and it has nothing to do with a large lady not singing yet. <br><br>Last year, the east end of our county opened up its new high school.  Along with the new high school came the new high school football team.  Many outsiders thought it would be best for this new team to play only a JV schedule for the first year or two.  That would give them a chance to slowly get their feet wet and allow their team some much needed experience before moving up to the varsity ranks.  But, the powers-that-be made the decision to dive right into full fledged, Friday night high school football action.  Immediately, the East Hickman Eagles became the underdog on everyone's schedule.    No doubt, there were a number of bumps and bruises, both on the practice field and under the lights on Friday nights.  The first season came and went without a victory.....at least on the scoreboard.  But, slowly, progression was made and improvements were seen.  Every road to victory has to begin with a series of steps, and up until recently, this team had taken 17 steps that all fell under the “L” column.  But....did you notice I said “recently”?<br><br>Step number 18 for the East Hickman Eagles came this past Friday night several miles away in Loretto, Tennessee.  When the big yellow buses finally pulled away from Loretto High School 21 points and a few hours later, step number 18 had become “W” number one.  At least on this night, the Eagles were underdogs no more....they took on a whole new title.....Winner.  Oh, I know some will say that they were already winners, and certainly that is true.  But those kids who have worked their backsides off the last year and a half will tell you that it is sure nice to finally see it on the scoreboard.  They would probably also tell you that the first 17 steps were painful, but that step number 18 had magically been the salve that took all that pain away.  It's amazing what victory will do for a team, or an individual for that matter....it makes you believe you can do it again.<br><br>The Christian person has something that no sports team has....a guaranteed victory in the end.  Regardless of how many fumbles we make or how many fouls we commit,  those of us who are saved know that when the final horn blows, that we will be the ones filming the “I'm going  to Disney World” commercial.  And this one thing I know....Disney World doesn't hold a candle to where we are really going.  <br><br>                               <center>Congratulations Eagles!</center>                                     <br><br>Go the extra mile - Devin<br>